Summer Recipes

In the summer, I don't like to cook with the oven because it makes the house so hot.  Here is a great recipe that is good for you and doesn't require heating up the kitchen.

Summer Berry Chicken Salad.

On a bed of mixed greens, add fresh sliced strawberries, fresh blueberries,green seedless grapes, sliced nectarines, cherry tomatoes, chopped green onions, dried cranberries, sliced grilled chicken breasts, and top with grated parmesan cheese.  I bought the dressing, Wishbone Superfruit Berry Vignette.  I also bought fully cooked frozen chicken breast patties, and heated them in the microwave.  My friend, Cassandra, her daughter Alex, and my two sons Will and Paul gave it two thumbs up!! 

Another recipe that I tried is a mixed fruit smoothie.  It is good for you and very refreshing. 

Add 3 cups of frozen mixed fruit, I used mango, pineapple, peach, and strawberry medley. to a blender, add water to get it started and puree until smooth.  Then add one can of frozen white grape concentrate and a 12 ounce Sprite, puree until smooth.  Add a cup of water and 2 cups ice, puree until smooth.  Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir.  I served my smoothie with a sliced peach and of course, the little paper umbrella.

It has been so hot lately, and I have been looking at summer drinks on pinterest.  I came up with this concoction last night.  Take three cups frozen fruit, I used a mixture of pineapple, strawberry, peach, and mango, 1 can of frozen white grape juice concentrate, 16 oz sprite, 2 cups water, and 2 cups ice cubes.  Add the fruit one cup at a time to the blender, add some water to get it started, puree the fruit until well blended, puree the other fruit.  Then add the frozen grape juice concentrate and ice, puree until smooth, add water and sprite.  Mix well in a large pitcher.  Serve with sliced fruit as garnish.  Very cool and refreshing.  I added one shot of peach schnapps to my glass.